by Donna Grant
“He escaped.”
Death sighed, her lips compressing together for a moment. “That he did. Now, the Reapers are fighting him. You and your family were caught in the middle.”
Neve eyed Death. “Did you bring me here because I figured out what the Reapers were?”
“No. That was brilliant, by the way. I hated that you found out, but I was immensely impressed.”
“Hated because it meant my death?”
“Yes.”
Neve knew she was already dead. Why else would Death be talking to her? And though she knew she could be thrown in the Netherworld, she still had questions she wanted Death to answer. “But not Jordyn or River?”
Lavender eyes narrowed on her. “You don’t know the story.”
“Did they learn of the Reapers?”
“Yes,” she grudgingly admitted.
“But you didn’t have them killed.” No wonder Talin was so angry and ready to fight for her.
Death raised a black brow as her face became stony. “There is much you don’t know, Neve Everwood. You’ve heard bits and pieces and came to your own conclusions.”
“I’m not wrong. It’s basic. Those two half—Fae learned of the Reapers but they weren’t killed.”
“Actually, Bran killed Jordyn,” Death stated in a harsh tone. “I gave her the choice to become a Reaper.”
Well. That, Neve hadn’t been prepared for. Perhaps she’d overstepped.
For long minutes, Death simply stared at her. “River isn’t a Reaper. She is, however, carrying Kyran’s child. She’s also the only member left of her family that the Dark have hunted and killed for numerous generations. She has the ability to read long—dead Fae dialect in books that we’re using to fight Bran.”
“I see.” Put that way, Neve brought absolutely nothing to the table.
“You think you’re unworthy?”
Neve looked Death in the eye. “In the Fae world, I come from an influential, powerful, and wealthy family. I’m courted for my family, and my connections.”
She took a deep breath and looked at the spectacular beauty around her, beauty she would never have thought to associate with Death. It proved that while Neve had learned her way around the Light Fae court, she knew nothing else.
“I’m not a warrior,” she continued. “Not like Rhi. I can’t read obscure Fae languages. I’m not carrying Talin’s child. I have nothing. Why then, am I here?”
Death smiled at the dragonfly still perched on her shoulder. It fluttered its wings before it flew off, zooming over Death, but never getting far. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“I have no right to ask, but why didn’t you help the Reapers when they battled Bran?”
Death sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “That’s the problem. I can’t. I want nothing more than to face Bran myself. He wouldn’t stand a chance against me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“What I’m about to tell you, the Reapers don’t know yet. Bran is somehow draining my magic. He’s weakening me.”
Now Neve understood. “To kill you.”
“Yes. I don’t know how he’s doing it, and I need to find out. Bran can’t take over. It would put all the realms into chaos.”
“The Reapers need to know.”
“They will. Soon enough. Cael already suspects. He’s too smart for his own good.”
Neve found it curious that Death mumbled the last part, as if it were more her thoughts than something she wanted spoken aloud. But Neve didn’t comment on it. She was too alarmed by what Death had just shared to do more than gawk at the entity.
“Enough of that.” Death squared her shoulders as if she’d just shaken off bad thoughts. “I want to know what you would do for Talin.”
“What I would do?” Neve repeated, unsure what Death was asking. “Anything. Everything.”
“Yes, but what?”
Neve turned to the side and bent to smell a fragrant orange flower she’d never seen before. “Bran shared enough of his story that I realized why Talin hadn’t told me who he was. I feared—still fear—that Talin might follow in Bran’s footsteps.”
“You think Talin loves you that much?”
Neve closed her eyes and heard Talin whisper of his love right before she’d died. Oddly, there hadn’t been any pain. Why was she just now remembering that?
There had only been . . . peace.
Could Death be responsible for that? Neve recalled the feel of the blade sinking into her skin. There had been a terrible flash of pain, and then she’d been in Talin’s arms, looking into his pale silver eyes.
Her lids lifted. “Talin is a man of honor. He’ll feel responsible for what’s happened to me and my family, though it isn’t his fault. But yes, I do believe he loves me.” She looked at Death. “Talin doesn’t say something he doesn’t mean.”
“Talin does feel responsible. He’s also incredibly angry right now. Would you leave Talin forever if it would make him better?”
Now Neve was really confused. “Leave? I’m dead. I’ve already left him.”
“Not of your own will.”
“I knew what was coming. I didn’t want Talin to be the one to kill me. Nor did I want any of the Reapers to do it.”
Death’s lavender gaze softened as admiration filled them. “You asked Rhi to do it in order to save Talin.”
“Talin could stay mad at Rhi, but I didn’t want him angry at any of his brethren for doing what had to be done because of the rules.”
“Answer my question.”
Neve faced Death. She loved Talin more than she’d ever thought she could love anyone. He was the first thing she thought of when she woke, and the last thing on her mind before she fell asleep.
Everywhere she went, she searched for him. Even when she knew he wouldn’t be there. Every minute spent with him bound her closer, tied her heart evermore to his.
His touch stirred her soul. His kisses roused her passion. And when their bodies were joined, she felt truly, completely whole.
Talin was the great love she’d waited her very, very long life for.
Neve blinked away the tears. All those times she’d wanted to be like Rhi, and she was getting the one thing she hadn’t wanted—the loss of her true love.
By the stars! Was this how Rhi felt? All the time? All those thousands upon thousands of years? Neve didn’t know how Rhi stood it. The pain was . . . unyielding, relentless.
“Neve,” Death urged.
She nodded, sniffing. “Yes. I would walk away from Talin forever if I thought it would make him better.”
“That’s what I thought you’d say.”
Neve was too shocked to do more than gape at Death.
Then Death smiled softly. “You say you bring nothing to the table, but, my dear, you bring loyalty, love, and honor. That is something to be proud of.”
“I . . . I don’t understand.” Why was Death saying all this? It was putting hope in Neve’s heart, and that she couldn’t take. Not now. Not after everything.
Death said, “I look for the greatest warriors of the Fae—both Light and Dark—for my Reapers. I kept it at seven always. Well, until recently. Every one of my Reapers was betrayed, and that betrayal brought about their deaths.”
“Like me,” Neve murmured.
“Exactly like you.” Death’s lips softened. “I’m giving you a choice. I can release your soul, and you’ll find peace with your parents. Or you can accept my offer to become a Reaper and do my bidding.”
Neve’s heart nearly leapt from her chest in excitement at the offer. To be with Talin. For eternity! She opened her mouth to answer when Death held up a finger to stop her.
“I am judge and jury, Neve. The Reapers are executioners. Are you prepared to kill without knowing what the Fae did? Only on my word?”
Kill. Now that was something Neve hadn’t thought about. Could she take someone’s life again and again based just on Death’s word? Someone had to be judge of the Fae. Talin and the other
s trusted Death. She could, as well.
Neve’s heart sank. “As I said, I’m not a warrior. I know nothing of battle other than what I saw today.”
“Is that a no?” Death asked with a quirk of her brow.
“I could do as you ask, but I’m not a—”
“I didn’t ask if you were a warrior,” Death interrupted her. “Bottom line. Do you want to be a Reaper?”
Neve smiled. “Yes.”
“Good.” Death closed the distance between them and laid her hand upon Neve’s arm.
As she looked into Death’s eyes, Neve saw what few ever had. Behind those lavender eyes was a soul weighted with responsibility, controlled by justice, and ruled by obligation. The universe rested on Death’s shoulders, and she carried it with dignity and grace.
It was the loneliness she glimpsed that surprised Neve.
There wasn’t time to think on it as she felt power—thick and pure—pour through her. Her magic increased, thrumming through her as it eagerly waited to be used.
The force of it all nearly brought Neve to her knees. She stood against it, her eyes closed and her teeth gritted. It felt like the entire universe was closing in on her, and just before she was crushed, everything exploded in a flash of dazzling lights that fell from the now dark sky like millions of stars.
Neve blinked up at the sky for the second time that day. Did Death control time, as well? Or had that passage of time actually occurred?
Then it didn’t matter as the magic and power swirled through her, seeping into her bone and muscle to coat her. Neve lifted her hands and looked at them. Her fingertips tingled with the force of her magic.
She laughed, unable to believe what had just happened. She was a Reaper. A Reaper! Nothing would stand in the way of her being with Talin but Talin.
Neve turned her gaze to Death, who smiled in approval. “Thank you.”
“You’ll be a great addition to the team. And my name is Erith.”
Neve twirled around. And that’s when she realized she no longer had on her white dress. She now wore black pants that molded to her legs and tall black boots that ended over her knees.
The same slinky black material covered her torso and down her arms. A black leather corset covered her where dozens of small knife handles peeked out. From her elbows down to the first knuckles of her fingers were leather gauntlets, each holding another knife on the underside of her forearm.
She touched her hair to find it was now styled in five thick braids from her face to her neck before being weaved into one thick plait.
Death’s smile widened when a sword appeared in Neve’s right hand. Neve gaped at the curved blade. The pommel was black wood with silver swirled along it in thick, curvy designs.
“Welcome, Reaper,” Erith said.
Chapter Twenty—two
“You doona belong here,” the Dragon King stated angrily.
Talin grimaced. “I didn’t mean to come.”
“Fae?” the King bellowed at hearing his Irish accent. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
Talin held up his hands. “I’m Light.”
The King shot him a hard look with his sherry—colored eyes. “I’m no’ daft. Who are you?”
“Talin,” he replied without thinking about it. The Dragon Kings weren’t likely to ever know he was a Reaper. “And you?”
The King stared before raking a hand through his short, sandy blond hair to dislodge the snow. “Roman. Now isna the time for you to be here.”
“I know. I just needed some time alone.”
“Your presence was felt the minute you went through our barrier.”
Of course. Talin had forgotten that the Dragon Kings had a magical barrier up along their sixty thousand acres. It wasn’t to keep humans out of their whisky distillery. It was to keep the Dark—or any Fae—out.
The only thing on Talin’s side was the fact that the Dark released a video to the human world showing the Dragon Kings shifting from human to dragon and back again. That brought MI5, news crews, and others looking for a peek at them.
Which meant the Kings couldn’t shift and fly as they normally would. That gave Talin a few minutes with Roman.
“I’ll leave,” Talin said.
Roman’s face hardened. “And never return.”
“The war between you and the Dark is heating up. I think you’d want the help of the Light.”
“And that’s why you’re here? Instead of your queen?”
Roman had him there. Talin smiled and held up his hands. “I’m leaving.”
He veiled himself but didn’t leave. It was just a few seconds later that more Dragon Kings appeared. At the head was none other than Constantine, King of Kings.
“Who was it?” Con demanded.
Roman shrugged, still looking around. “He said his name was Talin.”
“We should ask Rhi,” said a King with aqua ringed dark blue eyes and long, wavy, dark hair.
Con sighed. “No’ everything needs to be told to her, Rhys.”
“She’ll know,” Rhys pointed out.
Con turned on his heel, ignoring the freezing temperatures and snow. “Fine. Ask her. We need to know why this Light was here.”
Talin still wasn’t sure how he’d ended up at Dreagan. He hadn’t been thinking of the Dragon Kings. His thoughts had been on Neve.
He waited until all but Roman remained atop the mountain before Talin teleported to Inchmickery. To his shock, the others were already there.
Talin spotted Baylon, Jordyn, Kyran, and River combing through books, trying to find out where Eoghan might have been sent.
Fintan was in another room sharpening his sword while listening to the opera Carmen. Cael stood in his office with his back to the door and his gaze out the window.
Talin didn’t need to ask what Cael was thinking about. Eoghan and Bran. It was the two things on everyone’s minds.
He quietly walked to his chamber and opened the door. Talin stopped when he saw the bed, a bed he’d hoped to share with Neve. With each hour that passed without word from Death or Neve, Talin was coming to realize that Neve must’ve turned down the offer to become a Reaper.
Not that he could blame her. It wasn’t an easy job. The power and extra magic were amazing. The ability to remain veiled indefinitely among other attributes helped to soften the blow of what they did.
But it wasn’t something any of them could forget.
He walked to the bed and touched it. Talin allowed himself to dream of a world with Neve in it. Having that snatched out of his grasp was heartbreaking. No wonder Bran had lost his mind.
Talin was close to doing the same himself. The only thing that stopped him was Neve telling him not to do what Bran had. Neve wouldn’t want him to turn against those he considered family. He would hold it together.
Time would eventually heal his pain.
At least, he prayed it would.
He felt something behind him and whirled around. Talin’s mouth fell open when he saw Neve. Her smile was wide, her silver eyes bright with happiness.
It was the black leather armor that had him eyeing her in approval. Was there anything this woman wore that didn’t make him want to rip it off her and plunge into her body?
“Your eyes approve, but I don’t hear any words,” Neve said.
Talin took two steps and jerked her into his arms. He held her tightly. “I wasn’t sure you’d say yes.”
“I didn’t think I was a warrior. Death thinks differently,” Neve said with a chuckle.
Talin squeezed his eyes closed, happier than he’d ever been. “You’re really here?”
“I’m really here.”
“A Reaper?”
Neve nodded and slid her hands into his hair. “A Reaper. With all the responsibilities that you have.”
“Neve—” he began.
She raised a brow and gave him a stern look. “It was my decision. Erith told me exactly what I would be doing. It’s going to be hard at first, but I’m servin
g Death. I’m proud of that, even if I’m still hurting over how I came to be a Reaper. But,” she hurried to say when he opened his mouth. “Now I’ll get to hunt Bran along with you.”
Talin didn’t know what to say. He was both elated and sad that she was with him.
Neve stepped out of his arms. “Have your feelings for me changed?”
He jerked her back against him, shaking his head. “Never. I’m just wrapping my head around one of the leading Light Fae family members now being a Reaper.”
“My parents are gone,” she said in a soft voice. Her gaze lowered to his chest as she took a deep breath and released it. “Atris, though still alive, is also gone. I’ll bring justice to Bran for my family.”
“Aye, we will,” Talin said.
Neve grinned as she looked back at him. “I can’t wait to meet Jordyn and River.”
The door slammed shut with a thought from Talin. He held Neve against him. “We have eternity with them. I want some time with you. Alone.”
“Hmm. I like the sound of that.”
Talin’s heart was about to burst from happiness. “I . . . I . . .” He stopped and cleared his throat. Words had always come easily to him, but suddenly, now he couldn’t get them out.
Neve put her hand over his heart and gazed up at him adoringly. He was the luckiest Fae in all the realms. The proof was the woman in his arms.
“I’m an arse for not telling you of my love sooner.”
“Yes, you are,” she agreed.
He paused for a moment. “I’m going to tell you every day.”
“Yes, you are.”
Talin smiled. “And you’ll tell me every day.”
“Damn right.” Neve smiled.
Talin took a half—step back and held her hand between them. He gazed into her eyes. Nothing in their relationship had gone in sequence. Why should he start now? “From this moment through eternity I am yours.”
Her eyes widened and her lips parted as she recognized the words of the marriage ceremony of the Fae. Neve swallowed and blinked hastily. “From this moment through eternity I am yours.”
With those simple words, they were bound together as husband and wife.
She was his.
